If your dog has been sitting on your pillow a lot, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you a number of possible reasons why it has been doing it and what would make them more likely.
So, why does my dog sit on my pillow? Possible reasons why your dog sits on your pillow are that it finds your pillow comfortable, it likes the scent or that you have inadvertently encouraged the behavior by rewarding it.
There are actually multiple possible causes and it might be due to a combination of causes. However, there are some things you can consider when figuring out the main cause.
Why your dog sits on your pillow
Below are some possible reasons why your dog has been doing it and what would make them more likely to be the main reason.
It finds it comfortable
The reason why it does it could also be that it just finds it more comfortable there. This would be more likely if it tends to sit on a specific pillow, if it does not display unusual behaviors when it does it and if it sits there at random times.
It likes the scent
The reason why it does it might be because it smells a strong scent there and it likes the scent. This would be more likely to be the reason why your does it if it does it when you are around as well. If it only does it when you are away, it would be more likely that your dog does it due to some separation anxiety and because the scent makes it feel more secure.
You have inadvertently encouraged the behavior
It might be the case that you have inadvertently encouraged your dog to do it by giving it things it wants when it does it. If you tend to give your dog things such as toys, treats or extra attention, when it sits on your pillow, it will likely do it more in order to get more rewards. Instead, it would help to try to redirect its focus elsewhere when it is about to sit on your pillow and to reward it when it sits where you want it to.
It makes it feel safer
The reason why it does it could also be that it has some separation anxiety. It is likely that there is a strong scent on the pillows and it could be the case that smelling your scent makes it feel safer. This would be more likely if it only sits there when you are gone and if it starts to show signs of being anxious when you are leaving.
Things to consider
Below are some things you can consider when figuring out the main reason why your dog has been doing it.
What else happened when your dog first started sitting on your pillow
If your dog did not always sit on your pillow, it could help to consider what else happened when it first started doing it. For example, if it started doing it more since you started leaving it for longer time periods, it could be due to some separation anxiety.
What is different when your dog sits on your pillow
It would also help to consider if there is a certain time that it tends to do it. For example, if it tends to do it more when you have not been giving it much attention for a while, it could be the case that it does it because it knows that it will result in your giving it attention.
What to do about your dog sitting on your pillow
Below are some options you have when getting your dog to stop sitting on your pillow.
Positive reinforcement training
One option would be to train it to sit somewhere else with the use of positive reinforcement training. This is where you encourage it to behave in a certain way by rewarding it when it shows signs of behaving that way.
To use it to get it to sit in a certain spot you could do something such as the following:
- Make the location, you want it to sit or lay down in, comfortable.
- Get your dog to stand there and reward it
- Encourage your dog to sit or lay down by giving it a treat
- Continue to repeat the process a few times daily until it realizes that sitting or laying there results in it getting rewards
Give it another place to sit down
If it does not currently have somewhere else to sit or lay down, it would help to give it access to another spot to go to. One option would be to get a crate for it to use where it can go and feel safer.
Avoid encouraging the behavior
As mentioned above, it could be the case that it has learned that it gets rewards when it does it. Instead, it would help to reward it when it shows signs of sitting where you want it to and to try to redirect its focus when it is about to sit on your pillow.